New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Coupons
Posted by DickH on 27 Nov 2009 at 09:37 pm | Tagged as: Beacon Hill, Lowell-2009
While going through this week’s mail tonight I came to a large postcard from the New Hampshire Liquor & Wine Outlet urging me to “shop early for great savings” and that “America’s lowest prices are right next door in New Hampshire.” The postcard has three coupons to clip; one for $10 off any $75 purchase of “wine, spirits and gift cards”; another for $8 off a bottle of champagne; and a third for $10 off 2 bottles of Grand Marnier. The postcard is addressed to me “or current resident” at my home address.
Now I don’t ever remember buying anything at a New Hampshire State Liquor Store, so I don’t think this is a mailing to previous customers. Instead, it seems like a blanket marketing campaign designed to get Massachusetts residents to go north to purchase liquor and wine. Not only would this harm local package stores, it also deprives the Commonwealth of revenue derived from the sale of adult beverages within the state.
As I thought about this New Hampshire tactic, I was reminded of the “Town Fair Tire” case. You may recall that this past summer, the Commonwealth’s Department of Revenue ordered Town Fair Tire, a corporation doing business in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, to begin charging customers of their New Hampshire stores who were driving cars with Massachusetts’ license plates a Massachusetts sales tax on tires purchased in New Hampshire. Eventually, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the DOR did not have the authority to impose such a duty on an out-of-state vendor, but not before the predictable howls of outrage from north of the border. I can’t help but think this liquor store flyer is some type of retaliation for that dust up.
As a sign of my solidarity with Massachusetts package stores, I just tore up the New Hampshire coupons and tossed them in the recycling bin and will stop by a local establishment tomorrow and purchase a symbolic six pack of Sam Adams.
I can’t be bothered to waste a gallon or more of gas going up to NH to buy such things. Hell, I can’t even be bothered to do so for big ticket items, like when my fridge went. Too much trouble to save a few bucks. Time is money, and I value my time way too highly.
As members of this “Commonwealth” we must realize for every tax dollar we skip, someone else in the State will pay, whether it be in a job lost or higher property tax paid. Shopping local is a community thing.
Sam Adams must be rolling over in his grave with disgust at the thought of someone buying beer just to pay taxes. Taxs were anathema to Adams. Massachusetts has lost its way while New Hampshire is barely hanging on to what our founding fathers fought for.
We know that the taxes paid in Massachusetts are going to waste and fraud. Shopping in New Hampshire is striking a blow for freedom against the nanny state.
Every cent denied in Massachusetts gives a litle more freedom to its citizens.
Dick,
Lemme know if you need to make a bigger symbolic statement.
A real patriot would buy a cuppla cases of Sam, and then call me to help you really show New Hampshire!